I'll Have What She's Having October 29- November 19, 2011
The title of this body of work and exhibition is my awkward attempt at a sly sex joke. The collective I have been working with for 4 years now, sevenminusseven, usually chooses to title their exhibitions with statements such as "less than zero" or "you will never amount to anything" in attempts to draw the viewer out of the prejudice that art should have a profound, mysterious meaning only educated people can understand. With that consideration, "I'll Have What She's Having" was the first thing that came to mind. The actual intention behind using this title (stolen from a line in the movie "When Harry Met Sally" referencing a faked orgasm) is really about the thin line between admiration and jealousy among women. I attempted to explore this line and where it can be found in myself, where and when do I want to have what "she's having"? As I looked closer I found more often than not I was jealous of the outer limits of other women's lives, the parts they show the public. And I usually found myself, naively thinking the grass is greener on the other side, not taking into consideration the work, pain, love, tears and strength that these women carry with them from day to day. Hoping to embody this strength for myself and my own journey I also explore my own ever fluctuation thoughts on subjects like, spirituality, inner shadows, relationships and healing. This process has brought me one step closer to becoming my own beholder and gaining a compassion for the self that eludes me most days.